title: Perception about influenza and pneumococcal vaccines and vaccination coverage among patients with malignancies and their family members.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations for high-risk populations are recommended by current guidelines, vaccination coverage rate (VCR) is still low in patients with malignancies and the family members living with them.
  
  
  METHODS
  During the 2011-2012 seasonal influenza (SI), we surveyed 359 patients with solid or hematological malignancies Data were recorded in an especially designed questionnaire after face to face interview.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median patient age was 57 years (range 18-90) and 177 (49.3%) patients were female. Overall vaccination rate was 17% and 4.2% for influenza and pneumococcus, respectively. VCR among family members was 21.2%. The most common causes for not getting vaccinated were lack of knowledge for indication by the patients (33.5%), getting chemotherapy (22.1%), fear of side effects (12.5%), lack of efficacy (12.1%), and not advised by the attending physician (5.9%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VCR was very low among patients with cancer and their family members. To eliminate misconceptions and improve vaccination coverage in this population, educational programs for patients and for physicians focusing on safety and efficacy of vaccine are needed.
authors.affiliation: Ankara University School of Medicine, Department of Medical Oncology, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Urun
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akbulut
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Demirkazik
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cay Senler
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Utkan
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Onur
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Icli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010465:Perception; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey; D014611:Vaccination; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines